BEIJING -- Five of the 14 Chinese nationals from Hong Kong illegally detained by Japan have been confirmed in a good condition, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday night.

Qin Gang made the remarks in response to a question from the press after a team of Chinese diplomats visited these Chinese nationals who were detained when going to the Diaoyu Islands in East China Sea by Japanese police. They are the first to be sent to Naha, Okinawa.